Pro Bono Consultancies

Information on pro bono consulting 

VERTIC welcomes applications for all VERTIC Programmes: Arms Control and Disarmament, Environment and National Implementation. Our pro bono consultants are involved at any level of the organisation’s work in many different ways: from those requiring specialist skills to others where energy and enthusiasm are the only qualifications. Usually we are seeking individuals with good writing skills, a higher education, and a burning interest in one of our issue areas. Consulting work is based at our offices near Old Street, central London.

Your Commitment

If your application proves successful you will be expected to:

  • Accept and work within the pro bono consulting policy and the organisation's policies and procedures.
  • Attend regularly according to the arrangement you have with your co-ordinator.
  • Participate in appropriate training to carry out tasks as directed by your co-ordinator.
  • Understand and abide by our equal opportunities policy.

Our Commitment

  • To provide effective support, training and supervision appropriate to the task including a proper induction.
  • We will, wherever possible, endeavour to match the skills, interests and talents of each pro bono consultant to the allocated tasks.
  • We will treat all pro bono consultants as fairly and equally as paid staff.

We will strive to publish and promote any work you might be doing for us, giving you an opportunity to get a foot into a highly competitive market.

Benefits

  • Opportunities to attend our events, use our library, and establish working relations with the non-governmental community working on arms control and environment issues.
  • Opportunities to publicise your work.
  • Association with VERTIC: your name and picture on our website, and your own vertic.org e-mail account.

Expense

It is acknowledged by VERTIC that the essence of pro bono consulting is the giving, freely, of one's services and, while pro bono consultants may not accept any form of financial reward for their services, they should not expect to be out of pocket as a result.

Pro bono consultants will be offered reimbursement for out of pocket expenses, on production of receipts authorised by their supervisor, according to the prevailing formula and agreed maxima.

The mechanism for payment of expenses will be subject to regular review.

How to apply

See internship procedures. 

Selection

We encourage people to apply from all sections of the community and pro bono consultants will be selected and trained according to equal opportunities principles. We will, wherever possible, endeavour to match the skills, interests and talents of each consultant to the allocated tasks.

Where appropriate, we will limit certain tasks to pro bono consultants who can present particular skills, qualifications and experience. Selection is also based on the availability of appropriate work and staff time for initial training and supervision for the time you are offering.

Please be aware that as most applications are speculative and placements offered on an ad hoc basis there may not be any suitable opportunities at the time of your application and therefore some applicants may not be placed. Your details will be held on file for 12 months, after which you are free to reapply.

Please keep us informed if your availability or contact details change during this time.

We appreciate your interest in consulting with us, and hope you would like to take it further. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like any further information. 

Pro bono consulting opportunities 

VERTIC welcomes applications for all VERTIC Programmes: Arms Control and Disarmament, Environment and National Implementation.

If you are particularly interested in environmental issues, please contact the Senior Researcher in the Environment Programme, Larry MacFaul. As a Pro Bono Consultant for this programme, you would be expected to:

  • Contribute to Trust & Verify, the Centre’s quarterly publication;
  • Contribute to the Centre’s effort to develop analysis and recommendations for an effective and workable climate change regime architecture;
  • Contribute to the Centre’s programme activities on the United Nations initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD); and
  • Contribute to the Centre’s programme activities on illegal forestry.

You would ideally be a recent graduate with a background in science, politics or law, with an interest in pursuing a career in environmental policy and development.